Soldier, policeman martyred in SE Turkey operation

By Serdar Acil

MARDIN, Turkey (AA) – At least two security personnel, including a Turkish soldier and a police officer were martyred during an ongoing operation against the terrorist PKK organization in southeastern Mardin province Thursday, according to unnamed security sources.

The joint operation in the province’s Nusaybin town also left nine other security personnel injured, one of them seriously, the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said.

Meanwhile, 42 terrorists, including 10 women surrendered to security forces in the region, they added.

On Tuesday, 25 PKK terrorists, including five women had also surrendered in Nusaybin.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S., and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, nearly 500 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred, and over 4,900 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Hale Turkes contributed to this story from Ankara.